APJason Hanson, the longtime Lions kicker who is the NFL’s longest-serving active player and the player who has played in more games for one team than any other player in NFL history, has decided to call it a career.

The 42-year-old Hanson told DetroitLions.com that he is not 100 percent healthy and thought a foot injury was going to keep him from playing at his best.

“It was time to make a decision,” Hanson said. “It was the right time to step away. “Ultimately, it’s my heel – the problem I developed last year. Now that we’re starting a new year, it’s still an issue. I have the desire. I have the determination, as I said earlier, to come back. Each time I’d start to push it, I’d kind of short-circuit. I realized that at this point of my career, I don’t want to perform in a compromised way. It’s not good for the team. I lost a little of my desire to play injured.”

Hanson owns the NFL records for most career 50-yard field goals (51) and most games played with one team (327). He’ll go down in history as one of the best kickers ever to play the game.

He's really going to be missed. One of my all time favorite Lions.

_________________Just a thought...

April 4th, 2013, 8:29 pm

DisgruntledFan

Walk On

Joined: December 12th, 2008, 1:42 amPosts: 399Location: Michiana

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

Thank you for the memories Jason Hanson. For 21 years when he lined up for an extra point it was almost an absolute certainty that he nailed it. As a Lions fan I have the utmost respect for Hanson's dedication, hard work, and most of all skill as a kicker. Up and down, in good times and in TERRIBLE he never complained. It's a shame that like Barry Sanders he's leaving without a ring. They should retire this man's number. He deserves it.

_________________Same Old Lions, just a different year....

April 5th, 2013, 12:23 am

DJ-B

Pro Bowl Player

Joined: April 5th, 2007, 5:51 pmPosts: 2563

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

DisgruntledFan wrote:

Thank you for the memories Jason Hanson. For 21 years when he lined up for an extra point it was almost an absolute certainty that he nailed it. As a Lions fan I have the utmost respect for Hanson's dedication, hard work, and most of all skill as a kicker. Up and down, in good times and in TERRIBLE he never complained. It's a shame that like Barry Sanders he's leaving without a ring. They should retire this man's number. He deserves it.

April 5th, 2013, 12:43 am

Killwill25

Rookie Player of the Year

Joined: March 5th, 2009, 8:42 pmPosts: 2411Location: Brooklyn, NY

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

we(sports) should NEVER retire numbers. its a ridiculous practice

_________________Just one Super Bowl win before I go!

April 5th, 2013, 1:18 am

Growler

Div 1 - Starter

Joined: April 8th, 2010, 3:24 pmPosts: 581

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

So long, Jason. I suspect that kicker will end up being one of those positions where we appreciate the player a little more once he's gone, not that Hanson was ever unappreciated. We haven't had any drama that the kicker position for years.

April 5th, 2013, 2:29 am

conversion02

RIP Killer

Joined: January 26th, 2005, 9:34 pmPosts: 10773Location: Sycamore, IL

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

It will be nice having a kicker who can regularly get touchbacks...

______________________Fire everyone; clean house!

April 5th, 2013, 5:30 am

TheRealWags

Modmin Dude

Joined: December 31st, 2004, 9:55 amPosts: 12488

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

Jason-Thank you for 21 years of dedicated service. Good luck in all that you choose to do in your future.

Allen Park — Lions kicker Jason Hanson announced his retirement Thursday, completing one of the most historical careers in NFL history. It spanned 21 seasons, all with the Lions, and was one of the NFL's most productive kickers. The following are records Hanson set and accolades he earned:

Records*Set NFL record for the most games played by one player with one team (327), and is the first player in NFL history to play 300 games with one franchise. With his 304th game at Chicago (Nov. 13), he passed Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice for fifth place on the NFL's career games played list.

*In the 2012 season opener vs. St. Louis, set an NFL record for most seasons played (21) with one team.

*Franchise leader in games played with 327 and is the franchise's all-time leader in seasons played with 21.

Scoring*Ranks first in every statistical category for a kicker in Lions history: longest field goal (56 yards), field goals made (495), field goals attempted (601), points scored (2,150), extra points made (665) and extra points attempted (673).

*Third all-time in career scoring (2,150). With his 46-yard field goal in the first quarter at Philadelphia (Oct. 14, 2012), Hanson moved past kicker John Carney (2,062) for third place on the NFL's all-time scoring list.

*Third on the NFL's all-time career field goals list (495).

*Only player in NFL history to score 2,000 career points with one franchise.

*With eight points in Week 11 vs. Green Bay (Nov. 18), Hanson reached 2,100 career points and became the third player (kickers Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson are the others) in NFL history to score 2,100 career points. In 321 career games, Hanson scored 2,100 points and also became the first player in NFL history to score 2,100 career points with one team.

*Only missed eight extra points in his career (665 of 673) and was perfect in PAT tries in 14 different seasons (1992-93, 1995-96 and 2000-02, 2004-06, 2009-12).

Long distance*All-time record holder for career 50-yard field goals (52).

*Only player in NFL history with 50 50-plus-yard field goals. His 52 50-yard field goals are 10 more than any other player (John Kasay and Sebastian Janikowksi; 42) in NFL history. Broke the record of 50-yard field goals in 2008 when he surpassed K Morten Andersen (40).

*First kicker in NFL history to go 8-for-8 on 50-plus-yard field goals in a single season.

*Tied NFL record with four games making two-or-more 50-plus-yard field goals.

*Made 188 career 40-plus-yard field goals, setting an NFL record for the most 40-plus-yard field goals in NFL history. He broke the previous record established by Morten Andersen (187). His .674 field goal accuracy from 40-plus-yards (188-of-279) ranks third all-time among kickers with 200 attempts from 40-plus yards.

*In 2012, Hanson made a career-high 18 40-plus-yard field goals (16 from 40-49 and two from 50-plus), which is the second-most in NFL history during a season. He was one 40-plus-yard field goal shy of the single-season NFL record of 19 by Neil Rackers in 2005.

*Holds NFL record with 24 consecutive field goals of 40-plus yards.

*Connected on two 56-yard field goals during career, which are the longest field goals made in team history.

Season scoring records*Scored six points vs. Chicago in the 2012 season finale (1 FG, 3 PAT) and finished the season with 134 points. That set a franchise record for points in a season, breaking his own team record of 132 points scored in 1995.

*Reached 130 points in three different seasons (130 in 1993, 132 in 1995, 134 in 2012), becoming the seventh player in NFL history with three 130-plus-point seasons.

Close range*Connected on 443-of-508 (.872) field goal attempts inside the 50-yard line and was 305-of-320 (.953) from inside the 30-yard line.

Multiple field goals*Tallied four field goals in a game 27 times during his career and tied K Matt Stover (27) for the second-most games with four or more field goals in NFL history.

* Made four field goals four times in 2012, the most 4-or-more field goal games he has accumulated in a season during his career.

Game winners*19 career winning field goals made in the fourth quarter or overtime.

* Tied for most overtime field goals (nine) in NFL history.

* Six career winning field goals made with less than two minutes to play.

* 10 winning field goals made in the fourth quarter.

Career accolades*Made Pro Bowl appearances following the 1997 and 1999 seasons (Pro Bowls: 1998, 2000) and has led the Lions in scoring in 20 seasons. He is the only player in NFL history to lead the same team in scoring for the first 18 years of their career. He has the third-most seasons in NFL history leading his team in scoring.

*Named to the Lions 75th season all-time team (2008).

*Five-time winner of the Lions' Yale Lary Special Teams Player of the Year Award (1993, '99,'03, '06 and '08).

Punting*Punted in five games during his 21-year career. Overall, Hanson had 15 punts (534 yards) for a 35.6 average with four punts downed inside the 20. His net punting average was 32.5. Registered punts in games during the 1995, 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2012 seasons.

*At Tennessee in 2012, Hanson made four field goals and recorded three punts to become the first player since 1976 (Cleveland K Don Crockroft: 4 FG, 5 punts) to record 4 field goals and three or more punts in a game.

_________________"Good teams don't worry about a whole lot of stuff. They travel, they play, they win. And it doesn't matter where they go, what the time block is, all those kinds of things. They never seem to bother teams that play well, and we want to be one of those teams." -Jim Caldwell

Allen Park — Lions kicker Jason Hanson announced his retirement Thursday, completing one of the most historical careers in NFL history. It spanned 21 seasons, all with the Lions, and was one of the NFL's most productive kickers. The following are records Hanson set and accolades he earned:

Records*Set NFL record for the most games played by one player with one team (327), and is the first player in NFL history to play 300 games with one franchise. With his 304th game at Chicago (Nov. 13), he passed Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice for fifth place on the NFL's career games played list.

*In the 2012 season opener vs. St. Louis, set an NFL record for most seasons played (21) with one team.

*Franchise leader in games played with 327 and is the franchise's all-time leader in seasons played with 21.

Scoring*Ranks first in every statistical category for a kicker in Lions history: longest field goal (56 yards), field goals made (495), field goals attempted (601), points scored (2,150), extra points made (665) and extra points attempted (673).

*Third all-time in career scoring (2,150). With his 46-yard field goal in the first quarter at Philadelphia (Oct. 14, 2012), Hanson moved past kicker John Carney (2,062) for third place on the NFL's all-time scoring list.

*Third on the NFL's all-time career field goals list (495).

*Only player in NFL history to score 2,000 career points with one franchise.

*With eight points in Week 11 vs. Green Bay (Nov. 18), Hanson reached 2,100 career points and became the third player (kickers Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson are the others) in NFL history to score 2,100 career points. In 321 career games, Hanson scored 2,100 points and also became the first player in NFL history to score 2,100 career points with one team.

*Only missed eight extra points in his career (665 of 673) and was perfect in PAT tries in 14 different seasons (1992-93, 1995-96 and 2000-02, 2004-06, 2009-12).

Long distance*All-time record holder for career 50-yard field goals (52).

*Only player in NFL history with 50 50-plus-yard field goals. His 52 50-yard field goals are 10 more than any other player (John Kasay and Sebastian Janikowksi; 42) in NFL history. Broke the record of 50-yard field goals in 2008 when he surpassed K Morten Andersen (40).

*First kicker in NFL history to go 8-for-8 on 50-plus-yard field goals in a single season.

*Tied NFL record with four games making two-or-more 50-plus-yard field goals.

*Made 188 career 40-plus-yard field goals, setting an NFL record for the most 40-plus-yard field goals in NFL history. He broke the previous record established by Morten Andersen (187). His .674 field goal accuracy from 40-plus-yards (188-of-279) ranks third all-time among kickers with 200 attempts from 40-plus yards.

*In 2012, Hanson made a career-high 18 40-plus-yard field goals (16 from 40-49 and two from 50-plus), which is the second-most in NFL history during a season. He was one 40-plus-yard field goal shy of the single-season NFL record of 19 by Neil Rackers in 2005.

*Holds NFL record with 24 consecutive field goals of 40-plus yards.

*Connected on two 56-yard field goals during career, which are the longest field goals made in team history.

Season scoring records*Scored six points vs. Chicago in the 2012 season finale (1 FG, 3 PAT) and finished the season with 134 points. That set a franchise record for points in a season, breaking his own team record of 132 points scored in 1995.

*Reached 130 points in three different seasons (130 in 1993, 132 in 1995, 134 in 2012), becoming the seventh player in NFL history with three 130-plus-point seasons.

Close range*Connected on 443-of-508 (.872) field goal attempts inside the 50-yard line and was 305-of-320 (.953) from inside the 30-yard line.

Multiple field goals*Tallied four field goals in a game 27 times during his career and tied K Matt Stover (27) for the second-most games with four or more field goals in NFL history.

* Made four field goals four times in 2012, the most 4-or-more field goal games he has accumulated in a season during his career.

Game winners*19 career winning field goals made in the fourth quarter or overtime.

* Tied for most overtime field goals (nine) in NFL history.

* Six career winning field goals made with less than two minutes to play.

* 10 winning field goals made in the fourth quarter.

Career accolades*Made Pro Bowl appearances following the 1997 and 1999 seasons (Pro Bowls: 1998, 2000) and has led the Lions in scoring in 20 seasons. He is the only player in NFL history to lead the same team in scoring for the first 18 years of their career. He has the third-most seasons in NFL history leading his team in scoring.

*Named to the Lions 75th season all-time team (2008).

*Five-time winner of the Lions' Yale Lary Special Teams Player of the Year Award (1993, '99,'03, '06 and '08).

Punting*Punted in five games during his 21-year career. Overall, Hanson had 15 punts (534 yards) for a 35.6 average with four punts downed inside the 20. His net punting average was 32.5. Registered punts in games during the 1995, 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2012 seasons.

*At Tennessee in 2012, Hanson made four field goals and recorded three punts to become the first player since 1976 (Cleveland K Don Crockroft: 4 FG, 5 punts) to record 4 field goals and three or more punts in a game.

Jason Hanson will always be one of my favorite Lions. Great personal character too. He'll be missed.

April 5th, 2013, 3:47 pm

The Legend

HC – Jim Caldwell

Joined: February 11th, 2005, 3:01 pmPosts: 4699Location: WSU

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

I love Hanson, something just doesnt feel right about this "retirement" though. Wasnt his agent just complaining about money about 10 days ago? I feel like he may come back if the money is right - although possibly not with the Lions. Who retires with 495 field goals anyway, get 5 more.

April 5th, 2013, 4:25 pm

DJ-B

Pro Bowl Player

Joined: April 5th, 2007, 5:51 pmPosts: 2563

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

If you read it the same injury that plagued him last year "came back". Not saying its true, and it could be him gracefully covering up the fact that they couldn't work it out with the Lions FO, but it also sounded plausible.

April 5th, 2013, 6:20 pm

Footsoldier32

5th Round Pick - Traded

Joined: February 28th, 2007, 12:13 pmPosts: 1016

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

The Legend wrote:

I love Hanson, something just doesnt feel right about this "retirement" though. Wasnt his agent just complaining about money about 10 days ago? I feel like he may come back if the money is right - although possibly not with the Lions. Who retires with 495 field goals anyway, get 5 more.

Yeah, that would have been sick for him to get 500 career FG's.

_________________If you think education is tough, try being stoopid.

April 6th, 2013, 11:23 am

JL

Div 1 - Starter

Joined: December 13th, 2005, 2:09 pmPosts: 536

Re: Jason Hanson retires.

The best thing I can say about Jason Hanson is that every time he walked on the field to kick an extra point or field goal, the ONLY worry the team or fans ever had was that the other team would block the kick. Otherwise, it was a given that the kick would be good. Missed kicks were always a surprise to everyone.

That's one helluva legacy after 21 years.

_________________If God isn't a Lions fan, then why is the sky Honolulu Blue?